Collapsible box or crate.



M. WILPPONE.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX 0R CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, I916.

Paten ted Mar. 6, 1917,

2 $HEET$-SHEET I YNL' NORRIS PETERS (.0

M. WILPPONE.

COLLAPSIBLE s'ox OR CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1916.

l ,21 8,592. Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

2 SH TSSHEET'2.

MOSES WILPPONE, OF ABERDEEN, WASHINGTON.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX on CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 23, 1916. Serial No. 99,355.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, Mosns WILPPONE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Aberdeen, in the county of Grays Harbor and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Boxes or Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention contemplates an improved collapsible crate or box and has as its primary object to provide a device of this character which may be easily knocked down to occupy a minimum space for shipping-or storage purposes and thus constitute a highly desirable shipping container.

The invention has as a further object to provide a device of this character wherein the body of the box will be rigidly supported by a skeleton frame therefor adapted to be collapsed with the body of the box disposed therein when knocked down, so that the sev eral elements of the box body may, when disconnected, be shipped within the frame.

And a still further object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein the frame may be locked about the body of the box and the box thus sealed to prevent the unauthorized opening thereof.

Other and incidental objects will appear as the description proceeds and in the drawings wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corre-. sponding parts throughout the several vlews,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved shipping box or crate particularly showing the arrangement and mounting of the locking strip employed in connection with the supporting frame for the box body,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing the manner in which the pivoted side bars are held against displacement by the pivoted retaining member carried by the adjacent end of the frame,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation partly 1n section and showmg the manner in which the pivoted retaining member opposite to that illustrated in Fig. 2 may be swung downwardly so that the top of the box body may be removed,

Fig. 4 is a similar view partly in section illustrating the manner in which the pivoted side bars of the frame are engaged with the adjacent end thereof as well as the manner in which the pivoted retaining member at the adjacent end of the frame may be swung downwardly so that the side bars may be freed,

Fig. 5 is.a detail perspective view of the connection between the free ends of the reinforcing member which is arranged substantially midway the ends of the frame,

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view showmg the mounting of the box body within the frame,

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional View particularly showing the manner in which the reinforcing member disposed between the ends of the frame is adapted to surround the box body,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the bottom of the frame, and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail perspective view showing the manner in which the ends of the frame are pivoted to the bottom thereof.

In carrying out the invention, I employ a skeleton supporting frame for the body of the box or crate. This frame includes, as more particularly shown in Fig. 8, a bottom which is formed of spaced longitudinally extending strips or bars 10 connected intermediate their ends by a transversely extending strip 11 formed at its extremities with upwardly directed lugs 12. Connected to corresponding extremities of the strips 10, are the ends of the frame each including spaced upstanding angle posts 13 joined at their lower ends by a transversely extending angle bar or member 14. The bottom flange of this angle bar is, as more particularly shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, extended at its extremities to provide upstanding lugs 15 which confront the outer sides of the posts 13 and are secured thereto with the said posts fitting in the. angles between the said lugs and the upstanding flange of the said bar. At its free extremity, the bottom flange of the bar let is rolled or otherwise formed with a hinge loop 16 through which is fitted a pivot pin 17 The hinge loop 16, is, at its extremities cutaway to receive the adjacent ends of the bottom strips 10 which are rolled to provide hinge loops 18 receiving the extremities of the pivot pin 17. In this way, the ends of the frame are pivotally connected to the bottom thereof and it will be observed that the said frame ends may be swung in either direction upon the pivot pins 17 Connecting the upper extremities of the posts 13 at one end of the frame is an angle Patented Mar. 6, 191".

retaining member 19, one flange of which is arranged to cooperate with the outer sides of the said posts while the other flange of the said member is extended at its extremities to provide laterally directed pivot lugs embracing tlie upper ends of the said posts and swingingly connected thereto by suitable fastening devices or pivot pins 21. As illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the retaining member may be swung outwardly upon the pivot pins 21 to project laterally from the adjacent end of the frame. Connecting the upper extremities of the posts 13 at the opposite end of the frame is an angle retaining member 22 substantially identical with the retaining member 19. One flange of the retaining member 22 is disposed to cooperate with the outer sides of the posts while the other flange of the said member is extended at its extremities to provide pivot lugs 23 embracing the posts at their upper ends and swingingly connected thereto by suitable fastening devices or pivot pins 24:. As illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the

'retaining member 22 is movable upon the pivot pins 24: to a position projecting laterally from the adjacent end of the frame in a manner similar to the retaining member 19.

Connected to the upper extremities of the posts 13 at one end of the frame are side bars 25 which are swingingly supported by the pivot pin 21. The free extremities of the said side bars are notched to provide hooks 26 adapted to engage the pivot pins 2% at the opposite end of the frame, as more particularly shown in Figs. 2 and at of the drawings. The side bars 25 thus detachably connect the ends of the frame at their free extremities and are adapted to support the said frame ends in coacting upstanding relation to the bottom of the frame.

The brace member 11 forms one section of a tie strap or reinforcing member which cooperates with the frame at a point substantially midway the ends thereof. This strap includes sections 27 which, at their lower extremities, are swingingly connected to the lugs 12 of the brace member 11 and to the upper extremities of which are swingingly connected coacting sections 28 which may be joined to the sections 27 by the type of hinged connection illustrated at 29 or, if preferred, by the type of hinge connection illustrated at 30 since either of said hinge connections as may be found most preferable may be employed. The free extremity of one of the sections 28 is, as best shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, provided with an upstanding lug 31, preferably struck from the said section and the free extremity of the other section 28 is formed with a suitable opening 32 adapted to removably receive the lug 31 for detachably connecting the free extremities of the tie strap.

Arranged to cooperate with the swingingly mounted retaining members 19 and 22 is a locking element or bar 33. This bar, at one end, is formed with a keyhole slot 3 1 removably receiving a stud 35 carried by the retaining member 19, and at its opposite end, is formed with a hook 36 adapted to detachably engage a stud 37 carried by the retaining member 22. As will be observed, the locking bar 33 is adapted to hold the retaining members 19 and 22 against outward swinging movement upon the ends of the frame. 7

The supporting frame, as thus described, is adapted to receive the body of the box or crate in the manner best illustrated in Figs. 1, 6, and 7 of the drawings. This box includes a bottom wall 38 which is received by the bottom of the frame with the ends of the said bottom wall fitting within the angle members 14: of the ends of the frame. Seated upon the bottom wall 38 are end walls 39 which are received by the ends of the frame and may be rabbeted in the usual manner or otherwise formed at their extremities to engage with the ends of the side walls 40 of the box which are received by the angle posts 13 of the frame ends. Closing the upper side of the box and resting upon the upper edges of the side and end walls thereof, is a top wall 41. The top wall 41 is, at its extremities, received beneath the retaining members 19 and 22 of the supporting frame which are thus adapted to securely hold the top wall in position and by locking the said retaining members against outward swinging movement with the locking bar 33, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the said members Will be held in active position in engagement with the said top wall to prevent the accidental displacement thereof. If desired, the free end of the locking bar 33 may be connected with the retaining member 22 by a suitable lock or seal 4L2 so that the box can be opened only by breaking such seal. In this way, the unauthorized opening of the box may be prevented. Preferably, the tie strap is arranged to extend around the box intermedi ate the ends thereof as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings to reinforce the box and prevent the bulging of the sides thereof as well as the top and bottom of the box. By fitting the strap over the side bars 25 of the frame, these bars will be prevented from bowing outwardly and it will be noted that the free ends of the said straps are disposed beneath the locking bar 33. Consequently, the said free ends of the tie strap cannot be disconnected until the said locking bar is removed and the bar 33 therefore also pro vides a locking member for the tie strap. One or more tie straps of the character illustrated may, of course, be employed for bracing the box intermediate its ends or should the box be relatively short, the use of a tie strap would probably not be necessary and it could therefore be eliminated.

Attention is further directed to the fact, as best shown in Fig. 2, that when the retaining member 22 is in active position, the said member provides a locking element for the free ends of the side bars 25 since the retaining element is adapted to engage the said bars to prevent the upward. movement thereof for disengaging the hooks 26 of the bars from the pivot pins 24. The locking bar 33 therefore also indirectly provides a locking element for the side bars 25 since the said locking bar in holding the retaining member 22 in active position, thereby prevents the displacement of the free ends of the side bars.

It will thus be seen that I provide a very substantial and rigid box or crate. To collapse the structure, the locking bar 33 is first removed and the free extremities of the tie straps are disconnected. The retaining members 19 and 22 are then swung outwardly to inactive position, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings when the top wall 41 of the box may be dlsplaced. The hooks 26 of the side bars 25 may then be disengaged from the pivot pins 24 when the ends of the supporting frame for the box may be swung outwardly to free the side, end and bottom walls of the box. The walls of the box body may then be piled flatly upon each other within the frame and the frame folded down thereagainst so that the entire structure will then occupy a minimum space for shipping or storage purposes. Consequently, I provide a construction which will be particularly desirable as a shipping container.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame including retaining members, a brace member having coacting free extremities, and a locking element for holding the said retaining members in active position engaging with a wall of a receptacle received by the said frame with the said brace member extending around the body of the receptacle and with the said looking element overlying the free ends of said brace member for maintaining the said ends of the brace member in engagement with each other.

2. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame including ends, side bars connecting the said ends and independent with respect to each other, a retaining member cooperating with said side bars for maintaining the said bars in active position, and a. locking element for said retaining member.

3. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame including ends, pivotally mounted side bars connecting the said ends, a retaining member overlying the free ends of said side bars, and a locking element for said retaining member.

4. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame including pivotally mounted ends, side bars connecting the said ends, a retaining member for the said side bars pivotally mounted upon one of the said ends, and a locking element for the said retaining member extending between the ends.

5. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame including pivotally mounted ends, side bars pivotally mounted upon one of said ends and engaging the other end for connecting the said ends, re-

taining members pivotally mounted upon the ends and arranged for engagement with a wall of a receptacle received by the frame for holding the said wall in position with one of the said retaining members overlying the free ends of said side bars to provide a lock for the said bars, and a locking bar extending between the said retaining members for holding the said members in active position.

6. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame including bottom strips having the extremities thereof provided with hinge loops, ends including angle members having corresponding flanges thereof provided with hinge loops cooperating with the hinge loops of the bottom strips, pins extending through the said loops and pivotally connecting the ends and the bottom strips, means connecting the free extremities of said ends, and means for locking the said first mentioned means in active position.

7 In a device of the character described, a supporting frame including ends, retaining members pivotally mounted thereon,'side bars carried by the pivot pins of one of said retaining members and engaging the pivot pins of the other of said retaining members for connecting the ends of the frame with one of the said retaining members overlying the free ends of the side bars to provide a lock therefor, and locking means for the said retaining members.

8. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame including retaining members independent with respect to each other, and a locking element holding said retaining members in active position engaging over the ends of a wall of a receptacle body received by the said frame for retain- 1 My M frame 1n position on a receptacle body with the sald brace member extending transversely around the body and with the said locking element cooperating with the brace member for maintalning the said member in active position.

MOSES WILPPONE. [11. s]

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

